Is state gambling a tax on the poor?

[Kuciwalker]

Re: Is state gambling a tax on the poor?

Originally posted by Lancer
Here in Oregon there is an ongoing debate on the subject. Gambling dollars from state lotterys go to all sorts of worthy sounding stuff. For instance, clean water, restoring salmon runs, kids sports, schools. The taxpayers consistantly vote down tax increases, property tax increaes are capped. Oregonians don't want more taxes. So, the state has increased its gambling revenue. Studies show that it is often the poor who turn to lotterys in the hope of finding their way out of poverty. Some addicted gamblers will burn through their paychecks and then turn to food givaways such as church charitys...

Gotta go get the wife, brb.

So anyway, you have the left saying it's a tax on the poor while the churchgoing right say its immoral. Strange bedfellows working towards the same ends. Lots of people think if they spend the money on gambling they'll have less $ to spend on junk cars to put on blocks in front of their trailers. Personal responsibilty in other words.

Discuss.

If the poor gamble, it's their own fault.

[Zkribbler]

Re: Re: Is state gambling a tax on the poor?

Originally posted by Kuciwalker
If the poor gamble, it's their own fault.

Unfortunately, I have to agree.

Personally, I'm anti-gambling. Gambling takes the focus off of making money by working hard and by working smart, which is what is needed for both individuals and society to succeed. Too many people today, rather than trying to work their way out of poverty, see winning the lottery as a way out. But for the vast majority, it's just a way to squander their meager resources.

Still gamblin is legal now in California and overwhelmingly most people love it. There's no arguing with democracy and it's hard to get a genie back into the bottle -- even when it's an evil genie.

[Fake Boris]

Originally posted by Winston
It can't be a tax on "the poor", since nobody is forcing them to use any of their money on it.

In this country of 5 mio. people, the state lottery alone had a gross turnover of >$1.5 billion last year. I say it's mostly a voluntary contribution from the not-so-bright people.

Yeah, sure, it's not a tax, because no one is forcing them.

[Fake Boris]

BTW, if we can ban drugs on the basis that it's detrimental, why can't the same be done with gambling (open question)?

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by Oncle Boris
BTW, if we can ban drugs on the basis that it's detrimental, why can't the same be done with gambling (open question)?

I thought you didn't accept the first part of that statement. And many of those who want to ban drugs also want to ban the lotto.

[pchang]

State gambling is a tax on the innumerate. However, there is a high correlation between innumeracy and poverty.

[Fake Boris]

Of course I don't accept the first (and neither the second).

I suspect though that Winston would say that gambling is your fault, whereas drugs should be banned. I may be wrong, just asking.

[Dinner]

It's not a tax on the poor; it is a tax on the stupd/bad at math. That's often the same thing though.

[pchang]

Oerdin is under my mind control

[Dis]

Originally posted by Oncle Boris
BTW, if we can ban drugs on the basis that it's detrimental, why can't the same be done with gambling (open question)?

because the states make a lot of money on gambling.

True, they could make money if they legalized and taxed drugs. But the prime difference is drugs will kill you, gambling will not (unless you committ suicide after losing all your money)

[Dis]

Originally posted by Oerdin
It's not a tax on the poor; it is a tax on the stupd/bad at math. That's often the same thing though.

not all poor are not bad a math

[Lancer]

"not all poor are not bad a math"



Let the man who has never bought a lottery ticket or pulled the arm on a one armed bandit, bellied up to a card table or put his $ on the spin of a wheel cast the first stone.

[Kuciwalker]

OK.

[Lancer]

OK.

Kuci, most of us are who we are by an accident of birth. Good or bad, rich or poor that's a fact and I include myself in that number. We have sooo much just because of where we popped out and who our parents were. Go to a third world country and meet the wonderful, friendly people who will never even have a >chance< at what we have. Who work all day for a dollar to buy some rice...

Change lives Kuci, and do it out of humble gratitude with an understanding of who you are. Because we are lucky in the lottery of birth.

Others will never have the chance we have already fulfilled when the doc slaps our butts.

[Kuciwalker]

I think you didn't understand my post. I AM throwing the stone...

What's the point of saying "he who has not sinned, throw the first stone" and then when he does, lecture him on how he could have been born a sinner?